HURRICANE Irma will hit Florida tonight with police in Miami telling citizens they will be left on their own if wind speeds hit just 39mph.

A Miami police commander revealed once Hurricane Irma winds in Florida reach more than 39mph, emergency services will be "unavailable" to help local residents.

Freddy Cruz told CBS Miami the wind speed cut-off meant residents will be left on their own as emergency services would not patrol the streets until the storm had passed.

Hurricane Irma, the strongest ever recorded Atlantic Ocean hurricane, is set to smash through Florida after it reaches landfall in Miami on Saturday, according to the latest NOAA National Hurricane Center path updates.

GETTY; CBS

Hurricane Irma, the strongest ever recorded Atlantic Ocean hurricane, is set to smash into Florida

CBS

The storm looks set to devastate parts of Florida

The terrifying announcement comes after the devastating hurricane recorded wind speeds of around 185mph when it hit the Carribean this week.

Mr Cruz said: "Once we hit 39mph wind, we are directed to stay inside. So, in the event of 40mph winds, there may be a delay in police services."

He also warned local residents that the biggest danger was not the storm itself, but the aftermath.

The police commander explained: "If there are power outages, please stay at home. Many people like to go out after a storm and that is the most dangerous point.

"When there are down power lines, down trees, people can get hurt. Let the public emergency services do their work."

CBS

The wind speed cut-off meant that emergency services would no longer be patrolling the streets